News
Hartpury CDI: Hester on song in back garden
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Mon, 07 Jul 2025 15:00
Carl Hester led the British charge at Hartpury CDI (4 – 6 July 2025), achieving a close-to-home duo of wins in the Big Tour competition at Gloucestershire’s premier venue, just a stone’s throw away from his Newent home. 
Adding to their clean sweep achieved at Wellington CDI in June, Britain’s leading man Carl Hester repeated the success at Hartpury with his team partner Fame, claiming both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle competitions. Fiona Bigwood’s 15-year-old stallion looked a picture in the sunshine, delivering 77.304% in the opening competition, impressing Nick Burton (E – GBR), Susan Hoevenaars (H – AUS), Maria Colliander (C – FIN), Hans Voser (M – SUI) and Stephen Clarke (B – GBR). Their second test saw them light up Hartpury with an electric Grand Prix Freestyle, earning 82.825%; the duo have never scored less than 80% for any Freestyle performance in their time together.
Speaking on social media, Carl commented: “Hartpury completed my preparation towards this year’s European Championships. It’s always a great show and handy being only a few miles away! Fame has been a model of consistency for me this season and was the Hartpury victor winning both the GP and GP Freestyle. A little bit more polishing to do but isn’t that the norm in dressage!”
Reisenbeck 2023 fellow team member Gareth Hughes enjoyed strong form at Hartpury; with Monica Lindstedt’s Lusitano mare Lufada MVL, the Warwickshire-based Brit rode to 71.326% for second in the Grand Prix, before going on to win the Grand Prix Special with 70.681%. With the duo still new to eachother, and at only their second international start in the space of five weeks, the future looks bright for this eye-catching combination.
Elsewhere for the Brits in action across the 3* competition, Jess Dunn and Dan it’s Carston delivered an exciting third place finish in the Grand Prix, becoming the third combination to top the 70% barrier. In the Grand Prix Special, Fiona Bigwood with Donna Bella (Don Juan de Hus x Gribaldi) and Richard Davison with his own and Gillian Davison’s Chippendale-sired Intero joined Gareth on the podium; whilst Laura Tomlinson and the handsome KWPN gelding Issey (Johnson x Rubinstein I) were runners up in the Freestyle, followed by Alice Oppenheimer and her loyal partner Headmore Bella Ruby.
Michael was pipped to the post in Saturday's Inter I, which was claimed by Sarah Higgins and Geniaal (Vivaldi x Biotop) who topped the results with 73.294%. Sarah Rao’s bubbly stallion is no stranger to Small Tour success, having captured both the Fairfax PSG and PSG Freestyle titles at the 2024 LeMieux National Championships.
Congratulations to all winners, placed riders and those taking part in the CDI competition. Thanks go to Hartpury College & University for hosting a fantastic show in the thick of the selection season.
Results – top ten
CDI3* Grand Prix
1. Carl Hester and Fame, 77.304% (GBR)
2. Gareth Hughes and Lufada Mvl, 71.326% (GBR)
3. Jessica Dunn and Dan it’s Carston, 70.869% (GBR)
4. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon ll, 69.783% (GBR)
5. Laura Tomlinson and Issey, 69.326% (GBR)
6. Richard Davison and Intero, 69.196% (GBR)
7. Henriette Andersen and Zackery, 67.935% (GBR)
8. Alice Ruth Oppenheimer and Headmore Bella Ruby, 67.848% (GBR)
9. Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella, 66.152% (GBR)
10. Sorrell Klatzko and Turbo, 66.065% (IRL)
CDI3* Grand Prix Special
1. Gareth Hughes and Lufada Mvl, 70.681% (GBR)
2. Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella, 69.979% (GBR)
3. Richard Davison and Intero, 68.638% (GBR)
4. Henriette Andersen and Zackery, 66.298% (GBR)
5. Angus Corrie-Deane and Jack Johnson 2, 66.128% (GBR)
6. Tyla Schou and Dennis DeNiro, 64.745% (AUS)
7. Sara Gallop and Rock That Tango, 63.979% (GBR)
8. Sorrell Klatzko and Turbo, 63.042% (IRL)
CDI3* Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Carl Hester and Fame, 82.825% (GBR)
2. Laura Tomlinson and Issey, 74.975% (GBR)
3. Alice Ruth Oppenheimer and Headmore Bella Ruby, 71.375% (GBR)
4. Jessica Dunn and Dan it’s Carston, 70.305% (GBR)
CDI1* Prix St Georges
1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 72.618% (GBR)
2. Sarah Higgins and Geniaal, 70.941% (GBR)
3. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 70.118% (GBR)
4. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 69.059% (GBR)
5. Jezz Palmer and Ketcher B, 68.412% (GBR)
6. Tahley Reeve Smith and Woodcroft Valentino, 67.235% (GBR)
7. Yue Wu and Iggy Pop Bek, 67.177% (CHN)
8. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 67.000% (GBR)
9. Jodie Pharaon and Best Of Art, 66.9125 (GBR)
10. Sara-Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 66.176% (GBR)
CDI1* Intermediate I
1. Sarah Higgins and Geniaal, 73.294% (GBR)
2. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 73.000%
3. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 71.206% (GBR)
4. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 69.941% (GBR)
5. Jezz Palmer and Ketcher B, 69.235% (GBR)
6. Sara-Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 68.471% (GBR)
7. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 68.382% (GBR)
8. Yue Wu and Iggy Pop Bek, 67.882% (CHN)
9. Tahley Reeve Smith and Woodcroft Valentino, 67.765% (GBR)
10. Jodie Pharaon and Best Of Art, 67.235% (GBR)
CDI1* Intermediate I Freestyle
1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 78.225% (GBR)
2. Matt Frost and Kerouac, 74.690% (GBR)
3. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 74.490% (GBR)
4. Sara-Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 71.495% (GBR)
5. Tahley Reeve Smith and Woodcroft Valentino, 71.290% (GBR)
6. Ros Collins and Filligran, 70.270% (GBR)
7. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 69.440% (GBR)
8. Yue Wu and Iggy Pop Bek, 69.335% (CHN)
9. Jezz Palmer and Romanno Weltino, 69.240% (GBR)
10. Annie Ho and Southern Cross Braemar, 69.160% (HKG)
